Apna Chulha

sid srivastava

This review is just for the buffet, but this is easily the best Indian buffet in SF. For less than $25 you get AYCE of a ton of different things, all of which are very tasty. This won't be mind blowing flavor, but the food is great and value is truly unbeatable, especially in this city. Definitely come check them out.

Sam Myers

Apna Chula was absolutely amazing! We were seated quickly and the service was extremely attentive. My water glass was often filled before it was halfway empty. They were super considerate of my tree nut and coconut allergies, telling me what menu items were safe for me to eat. The food we have is delicious, garlic naan was perfectly buttery. The free rice pudding shot at the end of the meal was a pleasant surprise. Overall, the ambience was nice. The ceilings were high and it still maintained a cozy vibes.

Clark Chan

The naan bread was pretty good. The doughyness was thick and has a great bite to it. it was clearly homemade fresh to order. The chicken tikka masala was pretty good. The spices they used made sense with the chicken tikka masala. The richness of the curry was well balanced., And the cream they used was not too much. The acidity of the curry was on point. The curry was perfectly strong. The Pakistani curry was good. The blend of spices and herbs they used were pretty unique. It had less cream compared to the tikka masala.

Sharon Himmelstein

I’ve tried 5 Indian buffets in SF recently and this one is by far the best !!! Excellent vegetarian choices, everything is fresh and flavorful and fresh nan delivered to the table (ask for garlic if you prefer !) Buffet is $19.99 before tax and tip.

This restaurant deserves more love… it’s one of the best Indian restaurant in San Francisco for everyday dining — a place you would go to if you were craving restaurant style Indian food. The dishes are not overly greasy or full of food color and cream, the naan is soft, the ambience is not particularly modern like an Amber or Rooh, but it’s nice and clean. Full points to food.

Very pleasant and attentive staff - genuine warmth, not scripted courtesy. The chef personally adjusted dishes to our preferences, and every item delivered balanced flavor and precision. Excellent value for the quality, refined without pretension. Special thanks to Babu for making my wife’s and my experience exceptional. We’ll definitely be returning.

Second time to Apna Chulha and first time to try out their lunch buffet. Took my parents here and we all had a great time and rolled out of there very full. For about $20 (plus tip and tax) a person, it's a very hard deal to beat and a great affordable lunch in SF. There were plenty of options for both veg and non-veg and the naan came out fresh and hot to the table. The staff member who helped us, Babu, was very friendly and attentive. Some kids from a local daycare came by to do trick-or-treating and he passed out candy to them. It was really sweet to see local businesses support the community. Highly recommend folks to come try their lunch buffet! Last time we went, dinner was also fantastic!

The chicken tikka was exceptionally well cooked—perfectly marinated, tender, and full of rich flavor in every bite. The naan complemented it seamlessly, fresh, soft, and well balanced, enhancing the overall dining experience. Special thanks to Mr. Babu for the warm and attentive service, which truly elevated our visit. A must-visit spot if you are around Pier 39.

This place was so yummy. My new favorite indian spot in the city. Me and the bf came in right before the kitchen closed, not intentionally. But the server and chef/owner were so nice and accommodating. Even gave us extra tikka masala sauce. We were the last guests of the night and showed interest in cooking, so they both showed us how to make naan bread in the tandoori oven. Super sweet guys. Very good people. I'll definitely be coming back for dinner or their lunch buffet.

My friend and I were in town for just one day and decided to try this restaurant, and I’m so glad we did. The food was truly authentic Indian — full of flavor and clearly made with quality ingredients. The service was great, and everything tasted amazing. My friend ordered the lamb biryani, and I had the paneer makhni, and both dishes were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend if you’re looking for authentic Indian food!

We just ate there for my friend's birthday and I was pleasantly surprised by this incredible place that has taken over where West of Pecos used to be. We had the pleasure of being served by one of the owners and got to meet the co-owner, his wife as well too. Such gracious hospitality, extremely tasty Indian food with more than the usual basics, and a poppin vibe with good music and a cozy ambiance. I can't wait to celebrate more birthdays here and I love knowing that we are supporting a business owned by awesome people.

I have to say that this is one of the better Indian food buffets I've visited in some time. This place is a hidden gem! The food is delicious and fresh, naan is warm and made to order, and the selection is great. Plus, they change their options each time so you get to try a wider range of dishes with a lot of vegetarian options than you might normally find in other places . The food has a wonderful depth of flavor thanks to a good amount of spices, but it's not overly seasoned. Everyone is really friendly and attentive. It's not very crowded and there's plenty of room. t the restaurant is a nice spot with a lovely interior. The chai was pretty good, though they do change the flavors. I'll definitely recommend and plan to return.

Dropped by for a Sunday buffet. The restaurant is spacious and well lit, well decorated. There was one waiter who was very courteous and welcoming, and gave us free masala chai! The buffet overall has several good vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. My favorites were the chicken curry, potato-vegetable curry and naan. There are not a ton of options, but certainly enough to sample a variety. Dessert was on point - gulab jamun and kheer were fantastic. Would recommend. Price point is very reasonable $18-19

We dined at Apna Chulha during a short trip to The Golden Gate. The host was kind and accommodating towards kids requests. Overall food was amazing, Butter Chicken is probably one of the best ones I have had in the USA. They also had Goat curry which was well done and tasty. Qty of food was also quite reasonable. Besides the 2 dishes, we also ordered naan, ice cream, dal fry and rice which was garnished with peas. Kids enjoyed the food and so did we. Will definitely visit again if we are in the area

These people made my Thanksgiving. Great service from Mr. Babu and his family. The food is good too and I left stuffed and very well taken care of with an excellent lunch buffet for the cost of a burrito and a soda in SF. And it wasn’t a burrito and soda meal. I have no clue about Indian food. Only had it once before. But it was Thanksgiving and I saw a lot of people inside so figured it was good. I didn’t know what I was eating but I enjoyed everything and it was all homemade. The family are all so kind and genuine too. I don’t remember many experiences in the US where the service experience was so outstanding. I came in knowing nothing about Indian food but left knowing a full Indian family’s names and expecting to see them again. Looks like I’ll definitely be learning about Indian food now!

Heather Udomrat

We just ate there for my friend's birthday and I was pleasantly surprised by this incredible place that has taken over where West of Pecos used to be. We had the pleasure of being served by one of the owners and got to meet the co-owner, his wife as well too. Such gracious hospitality, extremely tasty Indian food with more than the usual basics, and a poppin vibe with good music and a cozy ambiance. I can't wait to celebrate more birthdays here and I love knowing that we are supporting a business owned by awesome people.

Gurekum Channi

Was visiting San Francisco for the first time and tried out this restaurant. The food was amazing and the staff was very courteous. At one point they accidentally made the wrong dish for us, and they waived the charge for that dish completely! Great customer service from them. Would recommend!

Nikhil Chouhan

We dined at Apna Chulha during a short trip to The Golden Gate. The host was kind and accommodating towards kids requests. Overall food was amazing, Butter Chicken is probably one of the best ones I have had in the USA. They also had Goat curry which was well done and tasty. Qty of food was also quite reasonable. Besides the 2 dishes, we also ordered naan, ice cream, dal fry and rice which was garnished with peas. Kids enjoyed the food and so did we. Will definitely visit again if we are in the area

Cindy C.

I have to say that this is one of the better Indian food buffets I've visited in some time. This place is a hidden gem! The food is delicious and fresh, naan is warm and made to order, and the selection is great. Plus, they change their options each time so you get to try a wider range of dishes with a lot of vegetarian options than you might normally find in other places . The food has a wonderful depth of flavor thanks to a good amount of spices, but it's not overly seasoned. Everyone is really friendly and attentive. It's not very crowded and there's plenty of room. t the restaurant is a nice spot with a lovely interior. The chai was pretty good, though they do change the flavors. I'll definitely recommend and plan to return.

Vijay Jogu

The chicken tikka was exceptionally well cooked—perfectly marinated, tender, and full of rich flavor in every bite. The naan complemented it seamlessly, fresh, soft, and well balanced, enhancing the overall dining experience. Special thanks to Mr. Babu for the warm and attentive service, which truly elevated our visit. A must-visit spot if you are around Pier 39.

Mudit Bhargava

This restaurant deserves more love… it’s one of the best Indian restaurant in San Francisco for everyday dining — a place you would go to if you were craving restaurant style Indian food. The dishes are not overly greasy or full of food color and cream, the naan is soft, the ambience is not particularly modern like an Amber or Rooh, but it’s nice and clean. Full points to food.

Rolando Bosch

These people made my Thanksgiving. Great service from Mr. Babu and his family. The food is good too and I left stuffed and very well taken care of with an excellent lunch buffet for the cost of a burrito and a soda in SF. And it wasn’t a burrito and soda meal. I have no clue about Indian food. Only had it once before. But it was Thanksgiving and I saw a lot of people inside so figured it was good. I didn’t know what I was eating but I enjoyed everything and it was all homemade. The family are all so kind and genuine too. I don’t remember many experiences in the US where the service experience was so outstanding. I came in knowing nothing about Indian food but left knowing a full Indian family’s names and expecting to see them again. Looks like I’ll definitely be learning about Indian food now!

Pansy Yip

Second time to Apna Chulha and first time to try out their lunch buffet. Took my parents here and we all had a great time and rolled out of there very full. For about $20 (plus tip and tax) a person, it's a very hard deal to beat and a great affordable lunch in SF. There were plenty of options for both veg and non-veg and the naan came out fresh and hot to the table. The staff member who helped us, Babu, was very friendly and attentive. Some kids from a local daycare came by to do trick-or-treating and he passed out candy to them. It was really sweet to see local businesses support the community. Highly recommend folks to come try their lunch buffet! Last time we went, dinner was also fantastic!

Muhammad Asad

Very pleasant and attentive staff - genuine warmth, not scripted courtesy. The chef personally adjusted dishes to our preferences, and every item delivered balanced flavor and precision. Excellent value for the quality, refined without pretension. Special thanks to Babu for making my wife’s and my experience exceptional. We’ll definitely be returning.

Mariyam Saviour

Dropped by for a Sunday buffet. The restaurant is spacious and well lit, well decorated. There was one waiter who was very courteous and welcoming, and gave us free masala chai! The buffet overall has several good vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. My favorites were the chicken curry, potato-vegetable curry and naan. There are not a ton of options, but certainly enough to sample a variety. Dessert was on point - gulab jamun and kheer were fantastic. Would recommend. Price point is very reasonable $18-19

Gaurav Dadhich

One of the best Indian food restaurants in all of SF. Great food, great vibe, extremely clean, servers are very pleasant and really take care of your meal deeply. Very large seating area. If you are looking for space to decompress, eat a pleasant meal, celebrate - great place. Pretty good portion sizes. Have eaten multiple times here.

Pamela Machado

My husband and I were craving food and since we were in the area, this seemed the spot to be. Parking was difficult, which is understandable, but oh boy, the search was worth it. We ordered the classics we know, a vegetarian coconut dish, chicken tikka masala and the saag paneer. I’m not very knowledgeable about Indian food but those are my go to dishes every time I crave Indian food. 5 stars for the food. It arrived in a timely manner, the presentation was great, and the portions were also perfect, not too much, not too little. Babu was our server and he was delightful, very kind and attentive to our needs. We’ll definitely come back!

After reading all the reviews I thought I have to give this place a try but ... there is work Todo, lots of work. Yes the place has a clean look but it comes across as sterile and with that not really inviting. I suggest you hire an interior decorator and or at least dim the lights a bit for starters. We only sampled 4 things Cucumber salad Plain naan A minced lamb curry and a chicken curry . The cucumber salad was a complete let down. Guys in the kitchen, you can't just chop a few veggies and throw a yogurt sauce at it, it doesn't work like that besides not the most appealing look it has no flavors. Let's talk about the two curries. The flavours were nice but the minced lamb tasted like chicken and the chicken tasted like lamb. Mmm maybe I got my taste buds upside down or the chicken went to the Folsom Street Fair and discovered a new identity for itself. Now on the plus side the naan. Yes it's a killer naan and amazing tasting, chewy but crunchy and melting in your mouth at the same time. Well done with that. The on the house palette cleanser of a rice pudding with some rose water and cardamom was a good way to overlook the salad and confused lamb/chicken. I see potential but requires some going back to the drawing board. Good luck

The only good thing about this place was their playlist. The food was average at best. Golgappa was disappointing, small, hard and tasteless. Also ordered chicken tikka masala, had lot of food coloring. Palak paneer and Yellow Dal were good. Regarding service, just 1 person was on the floor on a Sat night! Could do better.

Sayyam Sachdev

The only good thing about this place was their playlist. The food was average at best. Golgappa was disappointing, small, hard and tasteless. Also ordered chicken tikka masala, had lot of food coloring. Palak paneer and Yellow Dal were good. Regarding service, just 1 person was on the floor on a Sat night! Could do better.